A 117 hectare avocado farm on a volcanic soil plateau north of Lismore has sold for $14 million to an agricultural assets management and farming group through LJ Hooker Lismore.
Owner of Mountain Top Orchards Barry Kuhnell grew the enterprise over ten years from a farm full of pawlonia trees without a market to a high quality orchard with more than 14,000 Hass variety trees, grafted on farm onto root stock the family and staff produced themselves - mostly Velvick and Reed varieties.
This was the second venture the Kuhnells have sold before the orchard was in full production - the first located in another high rainfall locality, Green Pigeon near Kyogle. Their purchase in retirement of Mountain Top, however, was to take care of "unfinished business" and the owners had no intention of selling until their agent knocked on the door.
Along with the trees the property came with a 187ml irrigation licence and 10km bore plus harvestable rights. An on-site nursery used for grafting young trees provided additional income. In addition the farm held two homes with development approval for a third.
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